December 1645: An Ordinance for maintenance of divers Preaching-Ministers in the North.

December, 1645

[19 December, 1645.]

Standing Committees in Northern Counties etc to pay Salaries to Preaching Ministers.; Power to name Collectors for raising necessary moneys.

Whereas by one Ordinance made by the Lords and Commons this present Parliament assembled, Intituled, An Ordinance made by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, for the maintenance of some Preaching Ministers in the Cities of York, Durham and Carlisle, and in the Town of Newcastle upon Tyne, and Town of Berwick upon Tweed, and in the other Towns and places therein mentioned, out of the respective possessions of the Deans, Deans and Chapters of York, Durham and Carlisle: And by another Ordinance made by the said Lords and Commons, there is Seventy pounds per annum setled upon a Preaching-Minister at Howden in the County of York, out of the possessions of the Dean, and Dean and Chapter of York, over & besides thirty pounds per annum forth of His Majesties Revenue, In which said Ordinances there is one or several clause or clauses contained to the effect following (that is to say) That the Commissioners of Parliament residing at York, or with the Army, shall from time to time pay the said respective sums of money to the person and persons therein and thereby respectively appointed, at such days and times, and in such maner as is expressed in the said respective Ordinances, and that the said respective Ordinances shall be to them and every of them a sufficient Warrant in that behalf. And whereas there be now no Commissioners of Parliament residing at York or with the Army, in which respects some doubts have been made what persons shall pay the said moneys, Therefore the said Lords and Commons for the clearing of that or any other doubt that may arise to retard or hinder the said payments, And for the further Advancement and Establishment of so good, pious, and necessary a work, in those Northern and remote Counties where there is so great want of able, learned and painful Preachers: And for the more speedy Collecting and Payment of the said moneys, do hereby Ordain and Declare, That the several and respective standing Committees, or any three of them respectively in the several and respective Counties, Ridings, Cities, Towns and Places, where the said respective possessions of the said Deans, Deans and Chapters are scituate, lying and being, shall as well for the arrears of the said payments now past; As also from time to time hereafter pay the said respective sums of money to the person and persons in the aforesaid Ordinances mentioned and designed respectively, at such days and times, and in such maner as in the said Ordinance are respectively particularly expressed; And for their doing thereof, this present Ordinance shall be to them and every of them a sufficient Warrant in that behalf. And for the better expediting hereof, the said Lords and Commons do further Ordain, That the said several Committees of the said several Counties, Ridings, Cities, Towns and places, or any three of them respectively, where the said respective possessions do lie, shall and may constitute and appoint one or more several Collector or Collectors for the collecting of the said moneys. And the said Committees and Collectors may in all things proceed herein for the speedy gathering in and payment of the said moneys according to the tenor of this present Ordinance, and of the said former Ordinances before mentioned.